Monitoring RVFV Infection Using Bioluminescent Reporter Viruses In Vivo.

Rift Valley fever virus is able to infect multiple organs and cell types, and the course of infection varies between viral strains and between individuals in particular according to age, genetic background, and physiological status. Studies on viral and host factors involve detecting and quantifying viral load at multiple time points and in multiple tissues. While this is classically performed by genome quantification or viral titration, in vivo imaging techniques using recombinant viruses expressing a bioluminescent or fluorescent protein allow noninvasive longitudinal studies on the same group of mice over the entire course of disease and the detection of unsuspected sites of infection.

Activity in Group-Housed Home Cages of Mice as a Novel Preclinical Biomarker in Oncology Studies.

Background: Improving experimental conditions in preclinical animal research is a major challenge, both scientifically and ethically. Automated digital ventilated cages (DVC) offer the advantage of continuous monitoring of animal activity in their home-cage. The potential utility of this technology remains understudied and deserves investigation in the field of oncology.